Screen partition assembly for a doorway

ABSTRACT

A screen partition assembly includes an elongate housing having an upper extremity and an opposed lower extremity, and upper and lower arms mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible, robust screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position relative to the housing and a deployed position relative to the housing forming a partition extending from the housing. The screen is received and held by the upper and lower arms in the open positions thereof in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to screen doors and, moreparticularly, to a portable screen door assembly useful for providing atemporary screen partition at an opening or doorway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A screen door consists of a screen mesh installed at a doorway, andwhich moves between an open position opening the doorway and a closedposition forming a screen partition at the doorway, which blocks insectsand debris from entering interior spaces while allowing for air, light,and views. Hinged screen doors pivot between open and closed positions,and sliding screen doors, which or normally incorporated with slidingglass doors, slide between open and closed positions.

Doorways and sliding glass doors do not always incorporate screen doorstructures. Incorporating a screen door with an existing doorway orsliding glass door is normally expensive and time-consuming, requiressome if not a substantial amount of structural alterations to theexisting doorway or sliding glass door, and normally requires theservices of a skilled workman to ensure proper installation. Given thedesirability of screen doors, it would be highly advantageous to providea screen door assembly that is inexpensive and portable, that may beeasily and temporarily installed at an existing doorway without the needfor making structural modifications to the doorway, and that is readilyadjusted into a storage position for convenient storage during periodsof nonuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition assemblyincludes an elongate housing having an upper extremity, and an opposedlower extremity. Upper and lower arms are mounted to the upper extremityand the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movementbetween closed positions toward the housing and open positions extendingaway from the housing. The upper arm opposes and is parallel to thelower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible,robust screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a storedposition relative to the housing and a deployed position relative to thehousing forming a partition extending from the housing. The screen isreceived and held by the upper and lower arms in the open positionsthereof in response to movement of the screen from the stored positionto the deployed position in the open positions of the upper and lowerarms. The upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing forpivotal movement between the closed position and the open position, andthe lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing forpivotal movement between the closed position and the open position. Thescreen engages and is held by the upper and lower races formed in theupper and lower arms, respectively, in the open positions thereof inresponse to movement of the screen from the stored position to thedeployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. Thescreen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housingbetween the upper and lower extremities. The screen winds and unwindsrelative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen betweenthe stored and deployed positions.

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition assemblyincludes an elongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposed lowerextremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upper extremity andthe lower extremity, and an elongate opening to the elongate chamber,the elongate opening extending between the upper extremity and the lowerextremity. Upper and lower arms are mounted to the upper extremity andthe lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement betweenclosed positions toward the housing and open positions extending awayfrom the housing. The upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower armin the open positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible, robustscreen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored positionin the chamber and a deployed position extending outwardly from thechamber through the opening forming a partition extending from thehousing. A first coupling is formed between the screen and one of theupper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from thestored position to the deployed position in the open position of the oneof the upper and lower arms. A second coupling is formed between thescreen and the other one of the upper and lower arms in response tomovement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed positionin the open position of the other one of the upper and lower arms. Theupper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotalmovement between the closed position and the open position, and thelower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotalmovement between the closed position and the open position. The screenextends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing in thechamber. The screen winds and unwinds relative to the mandrel inresponse to movement of the screen between the stored and deployedpositions.

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition assemblyincludes an elongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposed lowerextremity, an extension extending between the upper extremity and thelower extremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upperextremity and the lower extremity, and an elongate opening to theelongate chamber formed in the extension. The elongate opening extendsfrom the upper extremity to the lower extremity. Upper and lower armsare mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity,respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positionstoward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing,wherein the upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in theopen positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible, robust screenhas a marginal extremity formed with an abutment. The screen is mountedto the housing for movement between a stored position in the chamber anda deployed position extending outwardly from the chamber through theopening forming a partition extending from the housing. The abutment ofthe marginal extremity of the screen is received against the extensionof the housing in the stored position of the screen. A first coupling isformed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms inresponse to movement of the screen from the stored position to thedeployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lowerarms. A second is coupling formed between the screen and the other oneof the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen fromthe stored position to the deployed position in the open position of theother one of the upper and lower arms. The upper arm is mounted to theupper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closedposition and the open position, and the lower arm is mounted to thelower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closedposition and the open position. The screen extends to, and is woundabout, a mandrel carried by the housing in the chamber. The screen windsand unwinds relative to the mandrel in response to movement of thescreen between the stored and deployed positions.

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition anddoorway assembly includes a doorway formed in a wall by a lintel and anopposed sill, and opposed first and second jambs extending between thelintel and the sill. An elongate housing is applied along the firstjamb. The elongate housing extends along the first jamb from an upperextremity of the housing positioned proximate to the lintel, and anopposed lower extremity of the jamb positioned proximate to the sill. Anupper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for movementbetween a closed position toward the housing away from the lintel and anopen position extending away from the housing and applied along thelintel between the first and second jambs. A lower arm is mounted to thelower extremity of the housing for movement between a closed positiontoward the housing away from the sill and an open position extendingaway from the housing and applied along the sill between the first andsecond jambs. The upper arm is moved into the open position and isapplied along the lintel between the first and second jambs. The lowerarm is moved into the open position and is applied along the sillbetween the first and second jambs. A flexible, robust screen is mountedto the housing for movement between a stored position relative to thehousing away from the second jamb and a deployed position relative tothe housing toward the second jamb forming a screened partition at thedoorway extending from the housing. A first coupling is formed betweenthe screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movementof the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in theopen position of the one of the upper and lower arms. A second couplingis formed between the screen and the other one of the upper and lowerarms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position tothe deployed position in the open position of the other one of the upperand lower arms. The upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of thehousing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the openposition, and the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of thehousing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the openposition. The screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carriedby the housing between the upper and lower extremities. The screen windsand unwinds relative to the mandrel in response to movement of thescreen between the stored and deployed positions.

Consistent with the foregoing summary of preferred embodiments of theinvention and the ensuing disclosure, which are to be taken together,the invention also contemplates associated apparatus and methodembodiments, including methods of manufacturing and installing a screendoor assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screen door assembly constructed andarranged in accordance with the principle of the invention and shown asit would appear collapsed in a storage position;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shownas it would appear partially deployed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented perspective view of the screen door assembly ofFIG. 1 shown as would appear deployed;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shownas it would appear deployed in preparation for installation with adoorway;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shownas it would appear deployed and installed with a doorway forming anexemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic section view of a spring-loaded bumper for usewith a screen door assembly constructed and arranged in accordance withthe principle of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected to FIG. 1, in which there is seen a perspective view of ascreen door assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with theprinciple of the invention and shown as it would appear collapsed in astorage position, and to FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of thescreen door assembly of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear partiallydeployed toward an operative to serve as a partition at a doorway.Screen door assembly, which is denoted generally at 10, includes anelongate housing 12 having opposed upper and lower extremities or ends14 and 15. Housing 12 is formed of plastic, aluminum or other metal, orother strong, resilient, or other like or similar material orcombination of materials readily understood by the skilled artisan asbeing substantially rigid. Housing 12 is not only elongate but alsohollow bounding an internal chamber denoted at 20 in FIG. 2, whichextends along the length of housing 12 from upper end 14 to lower end 15denoted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3, housing is formed with an elongate extension 21,which projects outwardly with respect to housing 12 and which extendsalong the length of housing between upper end 14 and lower end 15.Referencing FIG. 2, an opening 22 is formed in extension 21. Opening 22extends along the length of extension 21 between upper end 14 of housing12 and lower end 15 of housing 12 and is thus an elongate opening, andcommunicates with or otherwise leads to chamber 20 formed in housingalong the length of chamber 20 extending between upper end 14 of housing12 and lower end 15 of housing 12.

With continuing attention directed to FIG. 2, housing 12 is formed withand supports a mandrel 24. Mandrel 24 has opposed upper end lower endsmounted for rotation to the respective upper and lower ends 14 and 15 ofhousing 12. A flexible, pliant, robust screen or screen mesh 25fashioned of fabric, metal or other strong, flexible material orcombination of materials is attached to and wound about mandrel 24.Screen 25 extends along the length of mandrel 24 between upper and lowerends 14 and 15 of housing 12 and is wound about the entire length ofmandrel 24 from and between upper end 14 of housing and lower end 15 ofhousing 12. Screen 25 and has a straight marginal edge or extremity 26that projects outwardly from chamber 20 through opening 22, and isformed with an attached, elongate strip or abutment 27 of metal orplastic or other like or similarly resilient and strong substantiallyrigid material or combination of materials. Abutment 27 extends alongthe length of extremity 26 of screen 25 from and between upper end 14 ofhousing 12 and lower end 15 of housing 12, and is secured to marginalextremity 26 by crimping, with rivets or other suitable fasteners, orwith adhesive, such as construction adhesive. Abutment 27 is consideredpart of screen 25 and part of marginal extremity 26 of screen 25, isreceived in juxtaposition against outer end 21A of extension 21 in thestorage position of screen 25, and extends along the length of outer end21A of extension 21 from proximate to upper end 14 of housing 12 toproximate to lower end 15 of housing 12. Abutment 27 is wider orotherwise larger than opening 22 to prevent marginal extremity 26 andabutment 27 from retracting into chamber 20 through opening 22 in thestorage position of screen 25.

Screen 25 is moveable between a wound, inoperative, stored, or storageposition with respect to mandrel 24 wound about mandrel 24 as shown inFIG. 2, and an unwound, deployed, or operative position with respect tomandrel 24 as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7 unwound with respect to mandrel24 and projecting outward from housing 12 forming a screen partition.Mandrel 24 is a conventional mandrel, which is formed with a ratchet,commonly found in retractable blinds, and is formed with a conventionalspring-biasing mechanism that biases mandrel 24 in a wound or storedposition of screen 25 urging abutment 27 against outer end 21A ofextension 21 and maintaining screen 25 wound about mandrel 24 in chamber20 of housing 12. To move screen 25 from its wound/stored position withrespect to mandrel 24 and its unwound/deployed position with respect tomandrel, a user need only take up abutment 27 of screen 25 and pull onit outwardly with respect to housing 12 with sufficient force toovercome the spring bias applied to mandrel 24 biasing screen 25 intoits wound position in order to pull mesh at abutment 27 and rotatemandrel 24 in an unwinding direction of rotation to unwind screen 25with respect to mandrel 24 into its deployed position. Once mesh 24 isdeployed as desired, this pulling force is discontinued, whereby theconventional ratchet incorporated into mandrel 24 engages to lockmandrel 24 in place securing screen 25 in its deployed position withrespect to housing 12 and mandrel 24. To retract screen 25 into itswound/stored position from its deployed/unwound position, a user needonly take up abutment 27 and briefly pull on it outwardly with respectto housing 12 with sufficient force to briefly overcome the spring biasapplied to mandrel 24 to briefly and initially unwind screen 25 withrespect to mandrel 24 to disengage the ratchet formed in mandrel 24.After the ratchet is disengaged, mandrel 24 is released and unsecured,whereby releasing the pulling force on abutment 27 will permit the biasapplied across mandrel 24 to rotate mandrel 24 in a winding direction ofrotation to wind screen 25 about mandrel 24 until abutment 27 isreceived against outer end 21A of extension 21 and screen 25 is woundabout mandrel 24 in the stored position of screen 25.

Referencing FIGS. 1 and 3, assembly 10 is additionally formed withopposed upper and lower arms 40 and 50. Upper and lower arms 40 and 50are elongate, are coextensive, are half as long as housing 12, and arefashioned of plastic, aluminum or other metal, or other strong,resilient material or combination of materials well understood by thoseof ordinary skill as being substantially rigid. Upper arm 40 has opposedproximal and distal ends 41 and 42, and lower arm 50 has opposedproximal and distal ends 51 and 52. Proximal end 41 of arm 40 is mountedfor pivotal movement to upper end 14 of housing 12 with a conventionalpivot joint denoted at 44, and extends away from upper end 14 of housing12 to opposed distal end 42. Proximal end 51 of arm 50 is mounted forpivotal movement to lower end 15 of housing 12 with a conventional pivotjoint denoted at 54, and extends away from lower end 15 of housing 12 toopposed distal end 52. Upper arm 40 has opposed inner and outer sides 46and 47 extending between proximal and distal ends 41 and 42, and lowerarm 50 has opposed inner and outer sides 56 and 57 extending betweenproximal and distal ends 51 and 52. An elongate race or groove 48 isformed in inner side 46 of arm 40, which extends along the length of arm40 from proximal end 41 to distal end 42. Similarly to arm 40, anelongate race or groove 58 is formed in inner side 56 of arm 50, whichextends along the length of arm 50 from proximal end 51 to distal end52.

Arm 40 pivots at pivot joint 44 at upper end 14 of housing 12 between acollapsed, stored, or storage position toward housing 12 as seen in FIG.1, and a deployed or operative position extending substantiallyhorizontally outward from housing 12 from upper end 14 of housing 12 asseen in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7. Arm 50 pivots at pivot joint 54 at lower end15 of housing 12 between a collapsed, stored, or storage position towardhousing 12 as seen in FIG. 1, and a deployed or operative positionextending substantially horizontally outward from housing 12 from lowerend 15 of housing 12 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the collapsed position of arms 40 and 40, arms 40 and 50 are locatedtoward housing 12 and are received in juxtaposition with respect tohousing 12 opposing and substantially parallel with respect to housing12 including outer end 21A of extension 21 and also abutment 27 receivedagainst outer end 21A of extension 21, and distal ends 42 and 52 of arms40 and 50 oppose and confront each other, and this orientation isclearly illustrated in FIG. 1. In a further and more specific aspect, inthe collapsed position of arms 40 and 50, inner sides 46 and 56 of arms40 and 50 and grooves 48 and 58 formed in inner sides 46 and 56 of arms40 and 50 oppose and confront outer end 21A of extension 21 and alsoabutment 27 received against outer end 21A of extension 21 in the woundor stored position of screen 25 in chamber 20 of housing 12. In thewound position of screen 25 and the collapsed position of arms 40 and 50as illustrated in FIG. 1, assembly 10 is compact in a storage positionfor convenient transport and storage during periods of nonuse. Housing12 and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 cooperate as a framework, which ismovable between a collapsed, stored, or stored position as shown in FIG.1, and a deployed or operative position as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 inpreparation for installation and use of screen 25 in forming a screen ormesh barrier at a doorway.

Referencing FIG. 6, assembly 10 is useful in forming a temporary screendoor at an opening or doorway 70 conventionally formed in a wall 71 by alintel 72, opposed jambs 73 and 74, and a sill 75. To employ assembly 10for this purpose, assembly 20 is taken up and arms 40 are moved fromtheir collapsed as shown in FIG. 1 to their deployed positions as shownin FIG. 6. Assembly 10 is oriented upright, and is applied to doorway 70applying housing to and along jamb 73, applying upper arm 40 to andalong lintel 71, and by applying lower arm 50 to and along sill 75, asshown in FIG. 7. The length of housing 12 from upper end 14 to lower end15 is substantially equal to the length of jamb 73 from sill 75 tolintel 72, the length of upper arm 40 from proximal end 41 to distal end42 is substantially equal to the length of lintel 72 extending betweenjambs 73 and 74, and the length of lower arm 50 from proximal end 51 todistal end 52 is substantially equal to the length of sill 75 extendingbetween jambs 73 and 74. At this point, assembly 10 is secured in place,such as with threaded fasteners 78 applied between upper and lower ends14 and 15 of housing 12 and jamb 73, upper arm 40 and lintel 72, andlower arm 50 and sill 75. At this point, screen 25 may be deployed fromits stored position with respect to the framework formed by housing 12and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to form amesh or screen barrier at doorway 70 as shown in FIG. 7, and thenretracted as needed to remove the mesh or screen barrier at doorway 70to allow unobstructed passage therethrough. As seen in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7,abutment 27 is formed with an applied handle 27A that may be grasped orotherwise taken up by hand to assist a user in moving screen 25 betweenits stored and deployed positions. To remove assembly 10 from itsinstallation with respect to doorway 70, the above installationoperation need only be reversed.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, screen 25 has an upper marginal edge orextremity 80 directed at inner side 26 of upper arm 40, and an opposedlower marginal edge or extremity 81 directed at inner side 56 of lowerarm 50. Upper marginal extremity 80 of screen 25 is formed with anapplied bead 82, and lower marginal extremity 80 of screen 25 is formedwith an identical bead. In the deployed positions of upper and lowerarms 40 and 50, grooves 48 and 58 (see FIG. 1) formed in inner sides 46and 56 of upper and lower arms 40 and 50 register with the beads formedin upper and lower marginal extremities 80 and 81 of screen 25, and areapplied in and run through the respective grooves 48 and 58 in movingscreen 25 between its stored and deployed positions. This application ofthe beads formed in the opposed upper and lower marginal extremities 80and 81 of screen 25 to the respective grooves formed in upper and lowerarms 40 and 50 of assembly 10 forms opposed couplings releasablyattaching upper and lower extremities 80 and 81 of screen 25 to upperand lower arms 40 and 50 in response to the movement of screen 25between its stored and deployed positions, and guides screen 25 withrespect to upper and lower arms 40 and 50 along the movement path ofscreen 25 between its stored and deployed positions. This releasablyattachment of upper and lower marginal extremities 80 and 81 of screen25 releasably secures and holds screen 25 by and between upper and lowerarms 40 and 50 in the deployed position of screen 25 and ensures screen25 is secured in place with respect to upper and lower arms 40 and 50 inthe deployed position of screen 25. FIG. 5 illustrates the applicationof bead 82 to groove 48 formed in inner side 46 of upper arm 40 is shownin FIG. 5 releasably capturing or otherwise retaining upper marginalextremity 80 of screen 25 to upper arm 40, and this exact orientation isalso formed between lower marginal extremity 81 of screen 25 and lowerarm 50. In sum, a first coupling is formed between screen 25 and upperarm 40 in response to movement of screen 25 from the stored positionthereof to the deployed position thereof in the open position of upperarm 40. Similarly, a second coupling is formed between screen 25 andlower arm 50 in response to movement of screen 25 from the storedposition thereof to the deployed position thereof in the open positionof lower arm 50. The described bead-and-groove couplings formed betweenscreen 25 and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 are each exemplary of amale-female race coupling. In the present embodiment the beads of themale-female race couplings are formed in screen 25, and thecorresponding grooves or races are formed in upper and lower arms 40 and50, and this positioning of the beads and grooves can be reversed.

Assembly 10, including the lengths of housing 12 and upper and lowerarms 40 and 50, and also screen 25 forming the screen barrier, aresuitably sized and to appropriately relate to the doorway assembly 10 isto be mounted to and used with, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. If desired,assembly 10 may be formed with adjusting features to allow assembly 10to adjust to doorways of varying width and height. In other words,housing 12, and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 may be formed withlength-adjusting features or assemblies useful in adjusting the lengthof these structural features in order to provide a user with flexibilityin installing assembly in doorways of varying height and width.

As a matter of example, FIG. 8 is a highly generalized illustration ofan adjusting mechanism useful in assembly 10 to permit assembly 10 toadjust to the doorway it is to be used with. FIG. 8 is a is a highlygeneralized, fragmented schematic view of distal end 42 of arm 40, whichis formed a reciprocating bolt 90 having an inner end 91 directed indistal end 42 of upper arm 40, and an opposed outer end 91 projectingoutwardly with respect to distal end 42 of upper arm 40. Outer end 92 isformed with an enlarged boot 93, which, in this embodiment, is formed ofrubber or other like or similar material. Bolt 90 reciprocates in andthrough a fixed collar 95 formed in upper arm 40 in the directionsindicated by the double arrowed line A, and a tension spring 100encircles bolt 90 and is captured between collar 95 and a stop 101formed in bolt 100 between collar 95 and outer end 92, which acts onbolt 90 and collar 95 to bias bolt 90, and thus boot 93 formed in outerend 92 of bolt 90, outwardly with respect to distal end 42 of upper armin the direction indicated by the arrowed line B. After applying upperarm 40 to a lintel of a doorway, spring 100 acts on collar 95 and bolt90 urging outer end 92 formed with boot 93 toward and against theopposed jamb to initially secure upper end 14 of housing 12 and distalend 42 of upper arm 40 to and between the opposed jambs of the doorway.The provision of the length adjusting assembly formed in distal end 42of upper arm 40 as shown in FIG. 8 is useful in adjusting the overalllength of upper arm to accommodate variations in the width of doorwayspanning along the lintel between the opposed jambs. Such alength-adjusting assembly, or other like or similar adjustment assembly,may also be formed in upper end 14 of housing 12, lower end 15 ofhousing 12, and distal end 52 of lower arm 50 in order to facilitatelength adjustment in housing 12 and lower arm 50.

The present invention is described above with reference to a preferredembodiment. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges and modifications may be made in the described embodimentwithout departing from the nature and scope of the present invention.Various further changes and modifications to the embodiment hereinchosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilledin the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do notdepart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to beincluded within the scope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:

1. A screen partition assembly, comprising: an elongate housing havingan upper extremity, and an opposed lower extremity; upper and lower armsmounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, ofthe housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing andopen positions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper armopposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of theupper and lower arms; a flexible, robust screen mounted to the housingfor movement between a stored position relative to the housing and adeployed position relative to the housing forming a partition extendingfrom the housing; and the screen received and held by the upper andlower arms in the open positions thereof in response to movement of thescreen from the stored position to the deployed position in the openpositions of the upper and lower arms.
 2. A screen partition assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the upper arm is mounted to the upperextremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closedposition and the open position.
 3. A screen partition assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity ofthe housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and theopen position.
 4. A screen partition assembly according to claim 1,wherein the screen engages and is held by upper and lower races formedin the upper and lower arms, respectively, in the open positions thereofin response to movement of the screen from the stored position to thedeployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. 5.A screen partition assembly according to claim 1, wherein the screenextends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing betweenthe upper and lower extremities, the screen winding and unwindingrelative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen betweenthe stored and deployed positions.
 6. A screen partition assembly,comprising: an elongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposedlower extremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upperextremity and the lower extremity, and an elongate opening to theelongate chamber, the elongate opening extending between the upperextremity and the lower extremity; upper and lower arms mounted to theupper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housingfor movement between closed positions toward the housing and openpositions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposesand is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper andlower arms; a flexible, robust screen mounted to the housing formovement between a stored position in the chamber and a deployedposition extending outwardly from the chamber through the openingforming a partition extending from the housing; and a first couplingformed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms inresponse to movement of the screen from the stored position to thedeployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lowerarms.
 7. A screen partition assembly according to claim 6, furthercomprising a second coupling formed between the screen and the other oneof the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen fromthe stored position to the deployed position in the open position of theother one of the upper and lower arms.
 8. A screen partition assemblyaccording to claim 6, wherein the upper arm is mounted to the upperextremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closedposition and the open position.
 9. A screen partition assembly accordingto claim 6, wherein the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity ofthe housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and theopen position.
 10. A screen partition assembly according to claim 6,wherein the screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried bythe housing in the chamber, the screen winding and unwinding relative tothe mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored anddeployed positions.
 11. A screen partition assembly, comprising: anelongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposed lower extremity,an extension extending between the upper extremity and the lowerextremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upper extremity andthe lower extremity, and an elongate opening to the elongate chamberformed in the extension, the elongate opening extending from the upperextremity to the lower extremity; upper and lower arms mounted to theupper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housingfor movement between closed positions toward the housing and openpositions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposesand is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper andlower arms; a flexible, robust screen has a marginal extremity formedwith an abutment; the screen is mounted to the housing for movementbetween a stored position in the chamber and a deployed positionextending outwardly from the chamber through the opening forming apartition extending from the housing; the abutment of the marginalextremity of the screen received against the extension of the housing inthe stored position of the screen; and a first coupling formed betweenthe screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movementof the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in theopen position of the one of the upper and lower arms.
 12. A screenpartition assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a secondcoupling formed between the screen and the other one of the upper andlower arms in response to movement of the screen from the storedposition to the deployed position in the open position of the other oneof the upper and lower arms.
 13. A screen partition assembly accordingto claim 11, wherein the upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity ofthe housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and theopen position.
 14. A screen partition assembly according to claim 11,wherein the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housingfor pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.15. A screen partition assembly according to claim 11, wherein thescreen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housingin the chamber, the screen winding and unwinding relative to the mandrelin response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployedpositions.
 16. A screen partition and doorway assembly, comprising: adoorway formed in a wall by a lintel and an opposed sill, and opposedfirst and second jambs extending between the lintel and the sill; anelongate housing applied along the first jamb, the elongate housingextending along the first jamb from an upper extremity of the housingpositioned proximate to the lintel, and an opposed lower extremity ofthe jamb positioned proximate to the sill; an upper arm mounted to theupper extremity of the housing for movement between a closed positiontoward the housing away from the lintel and an open position extendingaway from the housing and applied along the lintel between the first andsecond jambs; a lower arm mounted to the lower extremity of the housingfor movement between a closed position toward the housing away from thesill and an open position extending away from the housing and appliedalong the sill between the first and second jambs; the upper arm movedinto the open position and being applied along the lintel between thefirst and second jambs; the lower arm moved into the open position andbeing applied along the sill between the first and second jambs; aflexible, robust screen mounted to the housing for movement between astored position relative to the housing away from the second jamb and adeployed position relative to the housing toward the second jamb forminga screened partition at the doorway extending from the housing; and afirst coupling formed between the screen and one of the upper and lowerarms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position tothe deployed position in the open position of the one of the upper andlower arms.
 17. A screen partition and doorway assembly according toclaim 16, further comprising a second coupling formed between the screenand the other one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement ofthe screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the openposition of the other one of the upper and lower arms.
 18. A screenpartition and doorway assembly according to claim 16, wherein the upperarm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotalmovement between the closed position and the open position.
 19. A screenpartition and doorway assembly according to claim 16, wherein the lowerarm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotalmovement between the closed position and the open position.
 20. A screenpartition and doorway assembly according to claim 16, wherein the screenextends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing betweenthe upper and lower extremities, the screen winding and unwindingrelative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen betweenthe stored and deployed positions.